RAIDERRAIDERPridePrideFebruary 2015

The saying, “if you build it, they will come” is ringing true in the case of Seneca Valley’s elementary strings program. After just one year on the books, the program has doubled and the interest level increases daily. “The strings program has exploded here at Seneca Valley,” explained Holly Cline, strings instructor for grades 4-6 and 9-12 orchestras. Last year was the first year for the elementary program and the first opportunity for students in grades 4-6 to participate in strings. Students were able to choose from the violin, viola, cello, and later in the year, double bass. Students participated in weekly lessons and orchestra once a week. They had 97 students participate throughout the 2013-14 year at Haine Elementary/ Middle School, Rowan Elementary, CVE and Evans City Elementary/ Middle School. This year that number has doubled to almost 200 students. Haine alone has 50 students participating in fourth grade (tripled from last year), and 40 participants in fifth and sixth grade. Rowan has 24 (doubled from last year), CVE has 25 and Evans City has 44 students total between the elementary (18) and the middle school (26). As the program becomes established and students come up through the elementary grades, the middle school, and high school numbers are expected to grow as well. In addition to Ms. Cline, Clair Barker teaches orchestra at the Seneca Valley Middle School, grades 7-8. As the numbers expand, so will the program. Ms. Cline and Ms. Barker plan to expand rehearsals to separate the fifth and sixth grade orchestra, chamber groups, and also develop other opportunities at both the elementary and secondary levels. “Ms. Barker and I have worked hard to make the strings program grow and be successful, but the students are the real reason behind our great start,” said Ms. Cline. “There are still improvements to be made, but I think I can say we are both grateful for the support from the community, administration, teachers and parents here at SV. There is nothing else like it!” To learn more about the elementary strings program, click here.

Strings strike a chord with elementary students

Haine Elementary School has been named a national American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) for making an exemplary commitment to comprehensive school counseling programs, ASCA officials announced last month.

The RAMP designation, awarded to schools that align with the criteria set in the ASCA National Model, recognizes schools that are committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program and an exemplary educational environment. Only 550 schools have been designated as RAMP since the program’s inception in 2004.

March 2 – School Board Meeting, 8 p.m., SHS Aud. (Work Session)

March 2-5 – Haine Elementary Kindergarten Registration, click here for more information.

March 8 – Daylight Savings Time Begins

March 9 – School Board Meeting, 8 p.m., SHS Aud. (Action Session)

March 9-11 – Evans City Elementary Kindergarten Registration, click here for more information.

March 12 – Feasibility Study Committee Meeting, 6:30-8 p.m., SHS LGI (see page 10 for more information)

March 14 – SAT Test, SHS

March 16 – Snow Make-Up Day #2

March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day

March 17-20 – Rowan Elementary Kindergarten Registration, click here for more information.

March 20 – Spring Begins

March 23-25 – CVE Kindergarten Registration, click here for more information.

March 27 – End of 3rd Nine Weeks

* More dates can be found on our homepage at www.svsd.net.

March Dates to Remember

continued on page 2

Haine Elementary School receives national RAMP Designation

CVE held their PTO-sponsored “I Love CVE” event on Feb 7. Families from the district participated in teacher-led activities, enjoyed food and had fun taking pictures in a photo booth. Click here to view scenes and video from the recent event held at the school.

CVE is loved

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Haine Middle School (HMS) Art Teacher Noele Reynolds and Haine Middle School are one of just three education groups from the United States and 20 other countries recently selected to be part of the upcoming 25th Anniversary Exhibition of the Empty Bowls Project in Providence, Rhode Island.

Ms. Reynolds’ time-lapse video of the HMS Empty Bowls event captured the attention of the national organizers. Ms. Reynolds and her students organized the event at HMS last year. The entire school, with over 700 students, participated in the Empty Bowls Project. Seven hundred and sixty bowls were on display and 600 bowls were sold in the first hour and a half. The proceeds totaled over $3,000 and were donated to Gleaners Food Bank.

“I extend my sincere appreciation to Ms. Reynolds for going above and beyond in the classroom and, more importantly, for sharing her passion for the arts with our young learners,” stated Dr. Tracy Vitale, Superintendent of Schools.

The exhibition will be open during the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts annual conference at the Johnson and Wales University and Culinary Arts Museum in Providence from March 25-28. Over 5,000 ceramic students, educators and artists will attend. Additionally, over 3,000 Culinary Arts students live and take classes on the campus where the museum is located.

Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to raise money and awareness in the fight to end hunger. The exhibition will include information on how the project started and their initial efforts to spread the project. Most of the show will focus on what others have done with their own Empty Bowls efforts. It will include text panels, photographs, posters, t-shirts, videos, bowls and more.

To view Ms. Reynolds’ video, click here.

Empty bowls help end hunger

“I am so proud of the staff at Haine Elementary School. Without their recognizing the importance of the impact the school counseling program has on our students, we would not have received this recognition. It truly has been a team effort,” said Ms. Rozann Lamberto, Haine Elementary School Counselor and RAMP application author. RAMP applications are reviewed once a year by a panel of school counseling professionals, who assess a school counseling program in 12 different areas of program expertise. Ms. Lamberto will receive the designation honor on behalf of the school during a special ceremony.

Haine Elementary School Principal Mandy Toy stated, “It is an honor to have Haine Elementary School’s Counseling program recognized by the ASCA. This award demonstrates Ms. Lamberto’s ability to align our counseling program to meet the specific needs of the Haine Elementary students, whether she is teaching a whole group lesson or she is meeting with a small group of students to help them learn important organizational skills. We are excited to be recognized for this elite award.”

Jill Cook, ASCA assistant director and RAMP coordinator, said this year’s recipients are to be commended for their dedication to serving all students and demonstrating how effective school counseling programs can make a difference in students’ lives. “This year’s RAMP honorees have shown their commitment to students and the school counseling profession,” Ms. Cook said. “This designation distinguishes these schools and encourages school counselors nationwide to continue to strive for success.”

Haine Elementary School receives national RAMP Designation continued from page 1

Seneca Valley hosted the Butler Early Care & Education Council (BECEC) meeting on Feb. 10 at CVE. The BECEC is a community collaboration focused on improving school readiness. Attendees included representatives from Butler County school districts, early intervention specialists and child care providers.

Butler Early Care & Education Council

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Students from Rowan and Evans City Elementary Schools took part in mid-year team-building refresher activities. These activities allowed the students to make connections with others and encourage positive relationships and interactions. The activities also helped to facilitate communication, promote creative thinking, develop problem solving skills, instill motivation to overcome challenges, and cultivate trusting relationships.

Be a link the chain 100 daysand counting!

Seneca Valley elementary students celebrated the 100th day of school on Feb. 5. Some schools celebrated with 100 different “things” and others featured students and staff dressed like they were 100 years old.

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Young girls at the Seneca Valley Middle School (SVMS), Haine Middle School (HMS) and Evans City Middle School (ECMS) recently participated in STEM Fem-related activities.

HMS girls created solid perfumes from beeswax, coconut oil and essential oils on Feb. 5 at the school. Students learned the definition and educational background of a perfumer as well as the difference between essential oils versus carrier oils. Afterward, they used QR codes to learn more information about perfumes. ECMS students participated in Angle Mania on Feb. 12 and created free-standing structures with sugar cubes, marshmallows, and toothpicks that incorporated a variety of angles. The young women had to apply knowledge about geometry, angles and architecture (in a 20 minute time frame) to complete the challenge. At SVMS, participants finished creating their storm drain designs for Cranberry Township. They submitted their plans to Rhonda Zellhart, Cranberry Township Sewer & Water Pretreatment Coordinator, who will review the details and make minor adjustments. The middle schoolers hope to paint the storm drains this upcoming spring in Graham Park.

In addition, and also in line with Engineering Week (Feb. 22-28) as well as Discover Engineering Girl Day (Feb. 26), Ms. Ashley Mazzoni, a 2006 Seneca Valley graduate and engineer at Westinghouse, spoke to the students about the numerous options of careers for women in the engineering field.

STEM Fems is an after-school club for girls in grades 5-8 who are interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Events include authentic hands-on, minds-on activities that are geared toward students’ interests in the areas of STEM. Guest speakers also may be invited to talk about how they use STEM topics in their careers and lives.

STEM Fems fun

The Cranberry Township Lions Club recognized top honor students from Seneca Valley Middle School (SVMS) for their outstanding accomplishments and activity involvement at its Service, Effort and Initiative (SEI) Ceremony at Northpark Deckhouse on Jan. 27.

The three students recognized were Tiffany Eaton, Savannah Glover and Alexandra Tofanelli. These awardees represented the “Student of the Month” category for the months of October through December respectively.

SVMS Guidance Counselors Ms. Jennifer North, Ms.Tammie Limmer and Mr. Bob Magerko each highlighted all the wonderful accomplishments and positive things each student has achieved both in and out of the classroom. Club secretary Tim Roscoe and acting King Lion Clyde Cameron presented each SEI student with a certificate of recognition, along with a $50 gift card to Barnes and Noble.

Top SVMS students recognized for service effort, initiative

The Seneca Valley Academic Games Team had a stellar performance in the Propaganda tournament, held at the Seneca Valley Middle School, on Jan. 7.

Haine Middle School (HMS) teams placed first, second, and fifth. They also had eight national qualifiers, who scored in the top fifteen percent of the students who competed in the tournament.

The first place team consisted of Beniafer Sepai, Anoop Savio, Parker Louge, Zach Garcia, and Renhan Xu.

The second place team was made up of Ananya Rao, Megan Bablak, Dilini Ranaweera, Arya Nayak, and Brenna Wrubel.

The fifth place team was comprised of Dora White, Nate Trost, Jack Veverka, Jason Hartenstein, and Matt Murphy.

National Qualifiers for the Propaganda tournament were Parker Louge, Zach Garcia, Megan Bablak, Anoop Savio, Brenna Wrubel, Dilini Ranaweera, Arya Nayak, and Matt Murphy.

In addition to HMS results, Evans City Middle School also had four national qualifiers, including Derek Wessel, David Choi, Rob Appling, and Kaitlyn Moore. Seneca Valley Middle School (SVMS) seventh and eighth graders who qualified in Propaganda included Tori Beck, Ben Hess, Connor McDonald, Ani Ponugoti, Kate Scanlan, Jonathan Simoes and Brian Vogel.

In the Junior Division, Lucy Geronime also qualified for nationals.

SV Academic Games Team prevails in Propaganda Tournament

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Mr. Jim Lucot’s AP Government and Politics classes attended the “Freedom of Speech: What’s The Cost?” presentation sponsored by The Holocaust Center of Greater Pittsburgh on Jan. 22.

The speaker was Mr. Gene Policinski, vice president of The First Amendment Center at Levy Hall of the Rodef Shalom Congregation. Mr. Policinski is a veteran journalist, and has held news leadership positions in newspapers, radio, television and online operations. In addition to expertise on First Amendment issues, Policinski is a long-time proponent of diversity as an essential component of a free press.

The First Amendment

Sarah Johanknecht (on left) and Kelsie McElroy, juniors at Seneca Valley, recently won the NCWIT award (National Center for Women & Information Technology). Kelsie was selected as an Affiliate Award winner for the Western & Central PA/West Virginia regional affiliate. In addition, Kelsie was also selected as a runner-up for the National Award. Sarah was selected as a runner-up for the Affiliate Award in the same region. They were recognized for their computing-related aspirations and for their demonstrated, outstanding aptitude and interest in information technology and computing; solid leadership ability; good academic history; and their plans for post-secondary education.

SV juniors hardwired for success

Fifteen instrumentalists from Seneca Valley participated in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District Band Festival at Greenville High School on Jan. 10-11.

Students selected were Sarah Kochis, Arielle Meltzer and Hanna Behr on clarinet; Mitch Topf on bass clarinet; Julia Scanlan on alto saxophone; Zach DeDionisio on tenor saxophone; Becca Danik on bari-tone saxophone; Mitch Weaver and Adam Johanknecht on trumpet; Lauren Agnello on French Horn; Aaron Jackson and Austin Treu on euphonium; Seb Demetter and Katy Kolor on trombone; and Brendan Kennelty on percussion.

Based on the individual student’s audition results at District Band, all 15 students moved on to the PMEA Regional Band Festival in February at Hickory High School in Hermitage, PA.

“Musical excellence for all students has long been the tradition of the Seneca Valley Instrumental Music program and these students represent a continuation of that tradition,” said Sara Snyder, secondary music teacher.

Instrumental teachers on the secondary campus are Varden Armstrong, Bob Babick, Sam Eisenreich and Ms. Snyder.

SV Instrumentalists excel at PMEA Festivals

Seneca Valley had 31 students selected for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District Jazz Band that was held at Slippery Rock University at the end of January.

Alto sax players selected include Dan Singer, Sarah Kochis and Katie Platt. Tenor sax players include Marina Fec, Nick Hepp and Tommy Zugell. Becca Danik was selected on baritone sax. Austin Landgraf was selected on guitar. The trombone section includes Martin Chrzanowski, Patrick O’Connor, Nate Fritch, Aaron Jackson, Katy Kolor, Seb Demetter, Alex Miller, Nick Garrett and Henry Von Rintelen. Students performing in the trumpet section include Connor Griffith, Adam Johanknecht, Mitch Weaver, Dan Popp, Maddy Sinan, Aaron Wolf, Daniel Kushner and Jeremy O’Connor. The rhythm section includes piano players Isaac McKinley and Miya Paserba, percussionists Jordan Bender and Colin Scott, and Hayden Goodzinski and Luci Ferraro on bass.

Seneca Valley students made up nearly 60 percent of the 53-member district jazz band.

“The jazz program at Seneca Valley has an established reputation as being one of the best programs in the state of Pennsylvania. This year is proving to be a continuation of that tradition as demonstrated by the audition results for this year’s PMEA District Jazz Festival,” said Sara Snyder, secondary music teacher.

Varden Armstrong is the director of both Jazz Ensemble I and Jazz Ensemble II at Seneca Valley.

PMEA District Jazz Band selects some ‘cool cats’

The Addams Family

Do you want to have dessert with The Addams Family? See page 11 for more details.

Members of the Seneca Valley All-School Musical Cast and Crew are planning to elicit lots of knee-slapping laughter with this year’s performance of The Addams Family. Five shows will be held in the Seneca Valley Intermediate High School Auditorium:

- Friday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m.- Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. - Sunday, March 8 at 2 p.m.- Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m.- Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are for reserved seating; $10 for adults and $8 for students, ages 3 through grade 12.

Click here to reserve your tickets today!

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Seven Seneca Valley students are headed to New York City after winning Gold Keys in the 2015 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Competition, where national medalists will be announced on March 16.

Gold Key winners include Hannah Kendrick, Eric Chatterjee, Brendan Kennelty, Rebecca Moser, Katherine Beringer, Callee McCosby and Nicole Walters.

In addition to Gold Key winners, Silver Key and Honorable Mention awardees had their artwork displayed at La Roche College, a sponsor of the 2015 Pittsburgh Arts Region Scholastic Art Awards. An exhibit of the award-winning work was on display in the Cantellops Gallery and Zappala College Center at La Roche College from Feb. 7-22. The exhibition featured more than 900 works of art.

No limits in art

Art Medium Name AwardPots in Blue-Drawing & Illustration Hannah Kendrick Gold KeyAbstract Self Portrait-Mixed Media Eric Chatterjee Gold Key Transparent Faces-Mixed Media Eric Chatterjee Gold KeyClass System-Photography Eric Chatterjee Gold KeySelf Portrait-Drawing & Illustration Brendan Kennelty Gold KeyReflection-Drawing & Illustration Brendan Kennelty Gold KeyNicole and Katie-Mixed Media Rebecca Moser Gold KeyBlue Mist- Ceramics & Glass Katherine Beringer Gold KeyShoe - Ceramics & Glass Callee McCosby Gold KeyBride and Groom - Ceramics & Glass Nicole Walters Gold KeySenior Career Art -Art Portfolio Samuel Foss Silver KeyRemington Typewriters-Drawing & Illustration Samuel Foss Silver KeyFrench Horn-Drawing & Illustration Brendan Kennelty Silver KeyGolden Phase Three-Mixed Media Alex Lecce Silver KeyBlue Swirl Guy-Painting Callee McCosby Silver KeyBird Cage-Sculpture Callee McCosby Silver KeyFaces-Drawing & Illustration Rebecca Moser Silver KeyGirl with Hands & an Earring-Mixed Media Rebecca Moser Silver KeyLamp-Mixed Media Rebecca Moser Silver KeySelf Portrait -Mixed Media Rebecca Moser Silver KeyDoc-Photography Jesse Trempus Silver KeyBone Pot - Ceramics & Glass Nicole Berner Silver KeyCurrent Blew - Ceramics & Glass Rachel Brunette Silver KeyAztec Leaves - Ceramics & Glass Emily Cekella Silver KeyGreen Leaves - Ceramics & Glass Rachel Moore Silver KeySad Tom-Painting Taylor Askey Honorable MentionBottles-Mixed Media Keaton Bigler Honorable MentionRabbit-Mixed Media Ali Campbell Honorable MentionSelf Portrait -Printmaking Ali Campbell Honorable MentionSwirl Face-Painting Eric Chatterjee Honorable MentionFalling Metal-Drawing & Illustration Samuel Foss Honorable MentionHelicopter Rotor-Painting Sara Goncz Honorable MentionBlack Painting-Painting Whitney Kaltenbaugh Honorable MentionFreedom of Expression-Painting Whitney Kaltenbaugh Honorable MentionMud Painting-Painting Callee McCosby Honorable MentionMud Painting II-Painting Callee McCosby Honorable MentionStill Girl-Painting Callee McCosby Honorable MentionSenior Art Portfolio -Art Portfolio Rebecca Moser Honorable MentionGirl Seated With Guitar-Drawing & Illustration Rebecca Moser Honorable MentionToys-Drawing & Illustration Rebecca Moser Honorable MentionSarah- Drawing & Illustration Micah Schirra Honorable MentionToy Box- Painting Abigail Smith Honorable MentionFloating-Drawing & Illustration Briana Thompson Honorable MentionPepper Grinder-Mixed Media Briana Thompson Honorable MentionBlue Vase- Ceramics & Glass Kalyn Serman Honorable MentionWeeping Leaf Pitcher- Ceramics & Glass Morgan Culichia Honorable MentionTrapezoid Reflection - Ceramics & Glass Shannon Uram Honorable Mention

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards has grown to be the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition initiative for creative teens, and the largest source of scholarships for young artists and writers.

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Seneca Valley Senior High School’s annual Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Fair was held on Feb. 11. There were 174 student participants with 95 projects on display including drones, computer building, LED cubes with coding and much more. Over 40 community judges volunteered to evaluate, score and award winning projects.

Many of the outstanding projects were funded by the Seneca Valley Foundation (SVF), which is dedicated to encouraging excellence and innovation in the Seneca Valley Schools. For the past two years, SVF’s fundraising efforts have provided STEM mini-grants to assist students with high-intensity projects for the STEM Fair.

To view two projects from this year’s STEM Fair click videos below: STEM Fair Project 1STEM Fair Project 2

It’s ‘fair’ to say STEM rules

Seneca Valley Intermediate High School students in the Best Buddies Program gathered on Jan. 28 in preparation for Super Bowl XLIX. Students in the program celebrated Super Bowl-style, enjoying snacks, video games and board games.

Best Buddies is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships for people with and without intellectual disabilities. In addition to the life-changing friendships they support, the organization offers leadership training and opportunities for students with and without disabilities. Seneca Valley is proud to be a partner in the Best Buddies organization.

Super Bowl Party

This semester Middle School Engineering Day will be held at the University of Pittsburgh in Benedum Hall (3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh PA 15213) on March 28, 2015 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Students will participate in engineering related activities and learn about the different engineering disciplines. If you are interested in having your child attend the event, please register here.

University of Pittsburgh’s Middle School Engineering Day

What’s Happening in Raider Athletics February 2015

What’s Happening in Raider Athletics February 2015

The first week of February is synonymous with the NCAA National Letter of Intent signing week and Seneca Valley student-athletes were able to make their collegiate destinations official. All-WPIAL goalkeeper Jess Neill inked her binding commitment to play women’s soccer and enroll in the Physicians’ Assistant program at Seton Hill University. Ms. Neill is pictured here with assistant coach Becca Pecora, her father, her mother, and head coach Dave Sylvester.

A bright future ahead

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The Raider football team had three student-athletes sign Letters of Intent as Mason DeHart (Clarion), T.J. Holl (Colgate) and Tyler Hudanick (Central Florida) made their commitments official on signing day. All three are pictured here with their parents.

Save the Date

SENECASOCIALApril 16, 2015

Congratulations to Tyler Hudanick for being named to the 2015 Big 33 Football Classic as a member of Team Pennsylvania. The game – a senior all-star showcase of Team Pennsylvania vs Team Maryland - is scheduled to be played Saturday, June 20 at Hershey Park Stadium with kickoff slated for 7:06 p.m.

Hudanick to play in annual all-star game

The official start date of the spring sport season is Monday, March 2. Teams will be conducting tryouts the first week of March and scrimmages are slated to begin the second week of March. Please remember the following is necessary for participation in tryouts and/or practice:

• Athletes must have a physical completed on PIAA CIPPE Forms found on athletics website.• If this is the second or third sport for the athlete, they must only complete PIAA CIPPE Section 7.• All athletes need a drug test.• All athletes need an ImPACT baseline concussion test once every two years.• All athletes must be registered in the “Sport Registration” tab of the SV Portal.• Athletes should contact respective coach for tryout information (coaches names can be found on athletics website main page, under the sports’ listing below center photo).

Spring Sports – tryouts begin March 2

For tickets and information, visit www.svsd.net/SenecaSocial2015

Ms. Joyce Hoffman, a crossing guard for the past four years at Haine Elementary School, was presented the Crossing Guard Award by a local radio station on Jan. 23. Ms. Hoffman was awarded the honor as part of a January contest recognizing special Crossing Guards. She was surprised with a special prize pack and hot cocoa. Prior to her crossing guard duty for Cranberry Township, she was a paraprofessional for over 20 years at Seneca Valley.

SV celebrates crossing guard

As part of Mr. Jim Lucot’s Teacher of the Year Induction, he will be serving as a Teacher Education Assistance for College and High Education (TEACH) mentor. This national program aids TEACH mentees who are students completing course work needed to begin a career in teaching. Mr. Lucot will mentor Mr. Peter Njuguna from Kutztown University and counsel him to better understand his roles and responsibilities as a teacher.

Mentor mentee

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Seneca Valley School District received the Honorable Mention for the Educators Award from Carnegie Science Center at the 2015 Carnegie Science Awards on Jan. 30 at their annual Announcement Reception.

Educator Awards recognize innovation in science and technology education at each of the following four levels: Elementary Educator; Middle Level Educator; High School, and University/Post-secondary Educator. Educators are recognized for innovation in inspiring students to understand, appreciate, and apply science and for the extent that these innovations are disseminated.

Seneca Valley teachers Kelly Weston, Rebecca Finch, David Lowe, Amy Palaski, Dean Walker and Patti Griest were nominated for this award. These teachers volunteer a lot of time towards the Seneca Valley (SV) Science Honor Society and Science National Honor Society. Between them, they have an active 200-member Science Honor Society, host the monthly Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Lecture Series, host Sprout Day for K-3 students, organize and produce an annual STEM Fair which had over 90 projects this year, and induct students that qualify into the Science National Honor Society. This group of teachers also organized SV STEM Alumni Days where 20 SV alumni returned to discuss post-graduate STEM experiences including education, career, and research.

The Carnegie Science Awards program honors awardees from more than 15 categories, including Corporate Innovation, Emerging Female Scientist, Entrepreneur, and Leadership in STEM Education. These individuals and companies have distinguished themselves by making unparalleled contributions to science and technology in various disciplines.

“The Carnegie Science Awards spotlight some of the most innovative minds today,” said Ron Baillie, Henry Buhl, Jr., Co-Director of Carnegie Science Center. “These individuals are making a global impact starting with our own region. We know they are already inspiring a new generation of leaders.”

Awardees will be honored during a formal celebration at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland on Friday, May 8, 2015. Three student winners, who will be selected at the Science Center’s 76th annual Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair, also will be recognized.

2015 Carnegie Science Awards recognize leaders in science, technology, education

Cassandra Pencek will be the Acting Assistant Principal at Rowan Elementary. She did her principal internship from California University at the Intermediate High School in 2013. Previously, she worked as a Kindergarten teacher at Ft. LeBoeuf School District in Waterford, Pennsylvania.

Joseph Ehmann will be the Acting Assistant Principal at Evans City Elementary. He has been working as a Special Education teacher at Evans City Middle School since 2000. He received his Principal Certification in 2006.

Pencek, Ehmann named Acting Assistant Principals

Renee (Smith-Schaffer) Bloom, a 1981 graduate of Seneca Valley recently receive a doctoral degree in administration and leadership studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA. She is an assistant professor of allied health at Clarion University.

Bloom is a 1991 graduate of ACMH Hospital School of Radiologic Technology and she received a bachelor’s degree in radiologic science from LaRoche College in 1992. In 2002, she received a master’s degree in health science from Slippery Rock University.

She is the wife of Paul Schaffer and she has two sons. Her parents are Burton and Rita Bloom of Evans City.

*This is a recently published brief from the Butler Eagle.

AlumniAlumniCornerCorner

Seneca Valley School District124 Seneca School Road

Harmony, PA 16037(724) 452-6040www.svsd.net

Seneca Valley in an Equal Opportunity Employer

Rowan Elementary first graders prepared “Friendship Soup” jars on Feb. 5. All of the first grade classes measured, poured and layered the ingredients into jars for the “Friendship Soup.” They then decorated the jars and attached directions. These soup jars (approximately 100) have been sent to a local food bank in Cranberry Township. This is an annual event that Rowan students have done for many years.

M’mm - doing good!

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The Seneca Valley Middle School (SVMS) Science Department received an equipment donation worth $1,995 from local business owners Mr. Peter Stumm and Mr. Eddie Stumm of High Tech Garden Supply in Cranberry Township on Jan. 23.

The SVMS Science Department will use this donation for their upper and lower greenhouses.

The SVMS Environmental Club, sponsored by Mrs. Traci Kuntz, in coordination with the graduation project research being done by senior Ms. Kiley Grinnell, requested and received multiple seed starter kits, nutrient solutions, lighting racks, and two Ebb and Flow Hydroponic grow systems to enrich the greenhouse space utilized in SVMS.

The systems will be used to study plant germination and plant life cycles covered in the seventh grade Integrated Science curriculum, as well as provide STEM enrichment. In addition, the SVMS Environmental Club will work with Ms. Grinnell in order to research vegetable growth. A variety of vegetables will be grown using traditional methods and hydroponic methods to encourage understanding and interest in organic farming. The SVMS Environmental club will share their findings at the “Creek Connections” Symposium that will be held in April at Camp Kon’o‘Kwee in Fombell.

SVMS Greenhouses grow with donation from High Tech Garden Supply

The Seneca Valley School District will hold a Feasibility Study Committee meeting from 6-8:30 p.m. on March 12 in the senior high school large group instruction room.

Committee members will be interviewing three architectural finalists, narrowed from eight submissions, who responded to a Request for Proposal (RFP) posted by the District.

Once the feasibility contract is awarded and the study completed, it will be utilized to assess future school maintenance, renovations, additions and new building construction.

The event is open to the public.

SV sets feasibility study meeting for March 12

(From L-R) Mrs. Traci Kuntz, SVMS Teacher; Mr. Jarrett Appel, High Tech Garden Supply Employee; Ms. Kiley Grinnell, Seneca Valley Senior; and Mr. Pete Stumm, Owner of High Tech Garden Supply.

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